Thadren’s bride? Not his daughter. But the property already belongs to Thadren.
"I wouldn't be sure you’ll win a second time," said Thor. “This fight has not been prophesied about.”
Surtr laughed. "Doesn’t make a difference. I did it once. I’ll do it again."
Thor threw Mjölnir at Surtr. Surtr grabbed a chair and hurled it at Mjölnir. The chair burst into pieces, and Surtr ducked as Mjölnir bounced off the wall and flew straight back to Thor.
“Unhand her,” Surtr yelled again, leaping over the table and yanking the sword from Thadren's side. He pointed the sword at Elle’s chest and pushed her out of Thor’s grip.
Thor growled but let go of her. Thadren pulled Elle out of the way as Surtr advanced on Thor.
"Come, Odinson. Let me show you once more how easy you are to beat."
Thor laughed. "You only won last time because I was alone. Last time, I didn't have them." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
In a flash of light, the entrance to the great hall filled with people. Odin, Frigg, Heimdall, Thor's brothers, and a darkly dressed woman she didn’t recognize, as well as Fenrir, stood in full battle armor. Beside them, a portal opened, and Loki and Val stepped through, also armed to fight.
Surtr laughed. "You think you are enough to beat me and my armies? It will be my pleasure to send you, a ragtag group of Asgardians, into oblivion. Even with all your strength, you cannot beat us."
"Your ego hasn't diminished over time," said Odin.
"His undeserved ego," Loki corrected.
"My ego is nothing compared to yours, Loki, son of a Jötunn. You should be siding with your own kind. Are you here to stab Asgardians in the back again and help me instead?"
Loki's eyes flashed, and his skin paled to a grayish blue. Two blades appeared in his hands as his clothing turned to native frost giant armor. He took a step forward, but Val stuck out her arm to stop him.
"Not your fight," she said.
"Come on, Asgardians," Surtr taunted. "I will take you all on at once. And then I'll go to what is left of Asgard and obliterate the rest of your rainbow bridge. And there is nothing any of you can do about it."
Odin flung his spear at Surtr, but Surtr caught it and flung it right back. Odin grabbed Frigg around the waist and hoisted her sideways before she was impaled. Thor's brothers swore and pushed forward, shielding their mother.
“Try hurting my mother again, and I’ll rip this entire structure down with you still inside,” yelled Baldur.
Loki disappeared and reappeared behind Surtr. He drove both blades into Surtr's back, but they melted, and the hilts clattered to the ground at Loki's feet.
"Was that meant to hurt?" Surtr swung around and struck Loki, knocking him across the room.
Val took to the air, her white wings spreading wide, and grabbed Loki before he crashed into the fireplace. Together they tumbled across a table of her father's men, sending them scattering.
Fenrir roared and raced forward. Hermödr went to grab Fenrir but missed, and Fenrir got several yards closer.
"Brother!"
Fenrir stopped moving. "I can take him."
"Sorry, I'm afraid not. But I can," said the woman in black.
The woman wore a skin-tight black dress that shimmered with some type of armor Elle had never seen before. Her ebony hair, slicked back into intricate braids, and she held a shiny, blackened trident, trailing swirling smoke behind her.
A shiver raced through Elle at the sight of the ominous, formidable woman.
For the first time, true fear crossed her father’s features.
"You... you can't be here," said Surtr. "You aren't allowed."
The woman shrugged and slithered forward, her movements both provocative and terrifying in their grace. "I spoke to my boss and got special permission to leave my realm. I've never seen him excited about the prospect of someone coming into his realm. He’s never met a fire giant before. And you… Well, your reputation precedes you. You've eluded me for too long, Surtr. Your reign is over."
